Date:         Sun, 10 Sep 2000 20:24:37 -0700
Reply-To:     Larry Innes <linnes@UVIC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Innes <linnes@UVIC.CA>
Subject:      brake dust shields...replacing?
In-Reply-To:  <200009100102.VAA88168@mail1.megamailservers.com>
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Well, o'l Blu, our 87 Westy GL, successfully managed to survive a
10,000 km trek from Goose Bay, Labrador to Victoria, BC last month. A
wonderful trip over 3 weeks with my spouse, two children (14 years
and 5 months, respectively) and a husky dog. Camped and visited with
friends and relatives, attended festivals, and generally enjoyed a
meandering all-points trip across the continent as a bit of a
vacation, as well as a move.

Mostly mechanically uneventful, but the  upper ball joints and CV
joints were casualties of the infamous Trans-Labrador Highway. (1200
km of one-lane washboard gravel road, anyone!?). These parts  should
have been replaced at the first outpost of civilization (Baie Comeau)
but due to time factors and lack of parts on hand, we had to resort
to a dealer in Gatineau.  Tres cher!!

Lesson learned: always carry a spare CV boot kit and a ball-joint or
two when attempting the Trans-Labrador! Or, leave the VW at home and
drive a good, solid off-road vehicle instead. [If any list members
are planning such adventures, let me know and I'll post some more
details about this little known but amazing part of the world!]

One other issue, still to be resolved, concerns the brake dust
shields around the front rotors.  They are badly worn, and the RHS
one has actually started to disintegrate. They seem to have lost some
essential rigidity, and make a squeeking noise at speed, esp. on
turns, where they appear to contact the rotor, and have become quite
annoying. Are these parts replaceable, or are they integral to the
disc brake unit? It's hard to tell by looking. If they are integral,
and I would hate to have to replace the whole disc brake to resolve
this issue, what might the consequences of removing them (cutting
them off) be?

Thanks for any wisdom on this.

Regards,

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Larry Innes
Victoria, BC CANADA
87 Westfalia GL "Blu"
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